UP315 Joanna Coates

Joanna Coates started her career as a fashion buyer at 16 and became CEO of two of UK sport's major governing bodies.
From 2015 to 2019, Joanna Coates was EnglandNetball's CEO and worked with the governing body for almost ten years. She was part of the team during her time in charge which led the Vitality Roses to victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games where they won their historic gold medal. The sport was also experiencing record growth during her tenure. 
Coates took on the CEO job of UK Athletics in February, 2020 a period dominated by COVID, financial and safeguarding challenges. 
In this revealing conversation Jo Coates reveals much about how sport works, the challenges faced by the National Governing Body model, her admiration for Sharron Davies and the issue of transgender athletes. 

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